By Rahul Banerji
Dutchman Joost Luiten, Matteo Manassero of Italy, and Japanese rookie Keita Nakajima shared the $2.25 million Hero Indian Open lead on a day of unusually low scores at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
Luiten, a Hero Indian Open regular and third-place finisher in 2023, the born-again Manassero and the fast-rising Nakajima all recorded 7-under par 67s on a day 63 in a field of 144 brought in sub-par scores.
The trio led by a stroke from England’s Sam Bairstow and Jordan Smith, and Frenchman Romain Langasque who had 6 under 66s while Aman Raj, Karandeep Kochhar and Om Prakash Chouhan were the best-placed Indians in tied 14th on 4 under 68s.
Seven players shared seventh place on 5 under 67.
Luiten a six-time winner on the DP World Tour, but winless since 2018, said after his flying start to the 57th edition of the Hero Indian Open, “I have good memories from last year.
“I was struggling with my game before that but finished third in Thailand and then third here. I like this golf course, it’s very demanding and you just have to hit it straight. It suits my game, especially today.”
Joining him almost at the end of the day was Nakajima, who spent a record 85 weeks as the world’s no. 1 amateur before turning pro in 2022. He then won three more times and topped the Japan Tour to earn a card on the DP World Tour.
Comeback story
Manassero won twice as a professional at age 17 and had four wins by the time he was 19 before slipping away and almost quitting golf.
The 31-year-old finally returned to the winners’ circle earlier this month in South Africa, and his bogey-free 65 was an indication the resurgence continues.
Chouhan, who plays on the DP World Tour as the winner of the 2023 PGTI Order of merit, said, “The Hero Indian Open is very important to me because if I do well, I have a good chance to improve my ranking and save my card for the next season.
“My entire focus is on doing well this time. Tomorrow I’m playing in the morning. There is a difference as in the morning there will not be as much wind as in the afternoons.
“I have never made the cut in the Hero Indian Open at this venue and today I was just focussing on my normal game and not play attacking golf.”
Aman Raj, who has his friend and fellow pro, Arjun Prasad on the bag this week, said, “Even if I leave the score aside, I’m just really happy with the way I was playing, some very steady golf.
On point
“The tee shots were on point, and I gave myself a lot of chances. To be honest, it was only 50% of them, but I was just very glad that I kept giving myself chances.”
On having Prasad on the bag, Raj added, “I think all the credit goes to him. You know, he really helped me stay calm and stable with shot decisions and reading the lines.
“Whatever I was doing, I was able to do in a better way and wherever I was lacking, he was there to help me out. It was great.”
Shubhankar Sharma, the top-ranked Indian at 188th, began with a bogey, but braving a cold and fever, finished on 2-under 70 for shared 34th place with Bhullar and Kochhar, Sharma and Bhullar are also front-runners to make up the Indian team to the Paris Olympics.
“It was a very consistent round overall.” Shubhankar said later.
This is a solid start. The putts were not falling early on but I got over the early stutters with a good second half today.
“I started the tournament with a three-putt bogey but then kept landing it close especially on the front nine. Closing the day by driving the green was a big boost as it helped me end the day with a birdie.
“The greens were absolutely pure when we were playing the back nine in the morning. So yeah, that is there but this course plays well throughout.”
Anirban Lahiri, event winner in 2015, had a forgettable 5-over that included birdies on the 13th, his fourth hole of the day, and the ninth, his closing hole. He was T-127 and staring at an early exit barring a dramatic second round.
Veer Ahlawat, playing on his home course, was tied for 22nd place on 3 under 69.
Top Indian placings
T14: 4 under 68 Aman Raj, Karandeep Kochhar, Om Prakash Chouhan
T22: 3 under 69 Veer Ahlawat
T34: 2 under 70 Shubhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar
T43: 1 under 71 Rahil Gangjee, Khalin Joshi, Rashid Khan, Sunhit Bishnoi
Also read: Sharma set for strong Hero Indian Open field on familiar course
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